Senior Roman Catholic clerics from Africa meeting in Rome this month are confronting the problem of priestly celibacy on the continent, according to sources close to the Vatican.

Following recent action by Africa, a majority of the world's countries have now banned nuclear weapons from their national territory for the first time, says Jonathan Frerichs. The churches have played an important role in this.

Gebisa Ejeta, a professor of agronomy at Purdue University in the US, has been named recipient of the World Food Prize for his vital research on sorghum in his native Africa.

In many parts of Africa 80% to 90% of people live in extreme poverty. Parents struggle to feed their children, and the life expectancy of many children in around five years. Adults rarely live beyond the age of 50 years.

The Malawi Council of Churches has asked John Tembo, the leader of the main opposition Malawi Congress Party to accept the landslide victory of President Bingu wa Mutharika secured in the 19 May 2009 elections

The leader of Africa's largest grouping of churches is urging faith communities and civil society on the continent to unite in a campaign for human rights, acknowledging that "we have often failed to speak with one voice" on this vital common concern.

Africa could find a dependable partner in China, if Europe does not change the way it relates to the continent, a Kenyan Anglican and World Council of Churches leader has said.

The extent to which mining companies routinely deprive African countries of huge amounts of tax revenue that could be used to combat poverty is revealed in two reports published yesterday.

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Council for World Mission (CWM) are appealing for calm in Madagascar following a change of government after weeks of violence in the country.

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has dismissed calls by the National Council of Churches for fresh elections, charging the churches with spreading populist politics that could ruin the country.